Mwanza. President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to officiate the inauguration of the John Pombe Magufuli Bridge (Kigongo–Busisi) on June 19, 2025.
The opening ceremony follows the announcement of the completion of the landmark infrastructure project across Lake Victoria.
Constructed entirely with domestic funds, the Sh700 billion project (approximately $260 million) links the towns of Kigongo and Busisi.
The structure, which spans 3.2 kilometres over water and includes an additional 1.66 kilometres of approach roads, stands as the longest bridge in East and Central Africa, and among the top ten longest on the continent.
It is a key component of a broader 90-kilometre highway development plan connecting Usagara, Sengerema, and Geita to Mwanza City.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa made an inspection tour of the newly constructed bridge on May 19 and used the occasion to announce about the opening ceremony that will be presided by the President.
“Preparations are underway, and I call upon citizens to turn out in large numbers to receive our Head of State when she arrives to inaugurate this historic project,” said Mr Majaliwa.
Speaking during the same event, minister for Works Abdallah Ulega said the successful completion of the bridge was a testament to President Samia’s administration and its commitment to infrastructure development through internal resource mobilisation.
He described the achievement as “historic,” noting that the project symbolises Tanzania’s growing capacity to implement large-scale infrastructure without depending on external borrowing.
The bridge replaces a ferry service that was previously the only means of crossing Lake Victoria between Kigongo and Busisi. The ferry system, often marred by delays and safety challenges, required travellers to wait up to three hours for a crossing.
The John Magufuli Bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel times and improve safety for both commuters and freight transporters.
More broadly, it will enhance trade connectivity within the country and with neighbouring landlocked states such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In his remarks, Mr Ulega also assured residents of Sengerema District that the government would proceed with the upgrading of surrounding roads to tarmac level, including the 54.5-kilometre Sengerema–Nyehunge stretch and the 32-kilometre Kamanga–Sengerema road.
These routes are intended to further open up the district and stimulate local economic activity.
Once opened, the John Magufuli Bridge is expected to serve not only as a critical transport link but also as a symbol of Tanzania’s ambitions to transform its logistics landscape and boost regional economic integration.
